CH 88

Chapter 88: Do More And Talk Less.

When the mist cleared, and Bian Zhonghua opened his eyes, he found himself standing in Qi Ci’s room at the inn. He was in the same position he was in before he ended up in the illusion, when he was going to get the incense.

As for the incense stick, it had already burned to the end, leaving some remaining ashes on the ground.

When Bian Zhonghua looked back, he saw Qi Ci sitting at the table. His eyes were wide and his mouth slightly open, showing a surprised expression. He looked so dazed that it seemed he had even forgotten how to breathe.

At that moment, Bian Zhonghua remembered the effect the Burning with Love and Passion incense had on people, and his heart was filled with sorrow. As he walked up to Qi Ci, he asked with an odd tone of voice, completely devoid of his usual teasing: “What? Who did you see in the dreamland?”

Qi Ci looked up blankly, stared at Bian Zhonghua, and then replied: “You.”

The Burning with Love and Passion incense only showed you the person your heart desired.

Bian Zhonghua: “….”

They both looked at each other with wide eyes and in complete silence. However, Qi Ci was unwilling to hold back any longer. After taking a deep breath, he gathered up all his courage and finally said: “I like you.”

Bian Zhonghua: “….”

At that instant, Bian Zhonghua couldn’t help but get caught up in his thoughts, reflecting on fate and life.

‘Ah, when I wandered the world, my life has been as insignificant as a drop in the vast ocean. As I passed through the endless Yangtze River, the only sound that remained was the sad echo of the wind in the distance.’

Then, Bian Zhonghua raised his head to say with great certainty: “This is a dream.”

Qi Ci: “….”

Qi Ci was both angered and amused. As he held his forehead helplessly with one hand, with the other one, he took the wine jar and poured himself a cup, then took a sip feeling both sad and happy.

When Bian Zhonghua saw that Qi Ci hadn’t tried to explain himself or argue, he became more certain that he was still in that dreamland.

Bian Zhonghua didn’t know when the illusion would end, and since he thought it would be too boring to just wait, he decided to find something to kill time.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered that Qin Yicang had told him once that in the illusion, the person his heart desired would do anything he asked him to do.

So, when Bian Zhonghua saw that there were peanut and melon seeds arranged in a white porcelain plate on the table, he slowly looked up at Qi Ci with an idea forming in his mind.

Qi Ci was taken aback by the look Bian Zhonghua had given him and couldn’t help but think: ‘It can’t be that… Bian Zhonghua really thinks he’s dreaming, right?’

Bian Zhonghua suddenly smiled and pushed the white porcelain plate containing peanuts and melon seeds in front of Qi Ci: “Peel.”

Qi Ci: “…..”

“Thank you~”

“I….why are you…so suddenly….?”

‘Shouldn’t you be in disbelief, then ask me over and over again to confirm my words, and then hug me?’

‘Why are you asking me to peel peanuts and melon seeds for you instead….?’

Bian Zhonghua crossed his arms and laughed: “Didn’t you just say you liked me? Come on, peel them and then feed me.”

Qi Ci had a feeling that something wasn’t right, but he didn’t know how to retort. So, he simply grabbed a handful of peanuts, peeled them one by one, and then put them on a separate plate, which was then handed over to Bian Zhonghua. With a big smile, Bian Zhonghua gently opened his mouth and said: “Ah~~~”

Qi Ci: “…..”

Still confused, Qi Ci picked up the peeled peanuts and stuffed them into Bian Zhonghua’s mouth.

Bian Zhonghua didn’t expect that Qi Ci was just going to stuff all the peanuts into his mouth without any interest. After having been caught off guard, he choked: “Cough, cough….”

Qi Ci hurriedly poured him water and then patted him on the back.

Bian Zhonghua patted his chest to help himself breathe smoothly, glad that he didn’t choke to death: “Little Gongzi, why don’t you feed me one at a time?”

“Alright,” Qi Ci said as he hurried to clean up the table. After noticing that the peanuts had been tossed away by accident, he said: “There are no more peanuts. I’ll go and ask the waiter to bring us more.”

Bian Zhonghua: “The waiter?”

‘Since when are there waiters in the dreamland?’

‘Shouldn’t the peanuts refill on their own in the porcelain plate? After all, this is an illusion, and everything that belongs to the illusion should respond to my every request.’

So, Bian Zhonghua stared at the white porcelain plate with utter concentration, and then said: “Fill up.”

However, the porcelain plate remained as it was. Empty.

Bian Zhonghua: “?”

As Bian Zhonghua pondered why the porcelain plate hadn’t responded to his order, Qi Ci had already returned: “The waiter said he’d bring us the peanuts in a while.”

Bian Zhonghua: “??”

As soon as Qi Ci’s words were said, there was a knock on the door: “Guest, I have brought you the peanuts you asked for.” At that, Qi Ci got up to open the door, and the waiter walked in with a tray of peanuts. After greeting them both with a smile, the waiter said: “Oh? Were the guests drinking wine? The guests have good taste. I’ll leave the peanuts here, enjoy.”

After saying that, the waiter bowed and left the room.

Bian Zhonghua: “???”

At that, Qi Ci grabbed the peanuts and started to peel them again. Then he handed the peanuts to Bian Zhonghua, this time, one at a time.

Unexpectedly, Bian Zhonghua stood up abruptly and rushed out of the room, leaving Qi Ci alone in the room, foolishly holding the single peanut in his hand. When Bian Zhonghua rushed out of the inn, he stood on the street and began to look around.

On the west side of the street, a vendor was picking up his wonton stall. On the east side of the street, there was a fight in a tavern. To the south of the street, a stray dog was barking at Bian Zhonghua, and to the north of the street, a group of people were carrying a sedan chair.

‘It looks too real to not be true.’

Unintentionally, Bian Zhonghua stepped on his right foot with his left foot. Since his eyes were distracted, he staggered back to the inn.

Qi Ci was still seriously peeling the peanuts and melon seeds in the room, when he suddenly saw Bian Zhonghua walking back lost in thought. With a trembling voice, Bian Zhonghua asked: “Since when did this stop being part of the illusion?!”

“What illusion?” Qi Ci was a little confused. “Ah, but I did have a strange dream just now. I dreamed of the time we met for the first time in the brothel.”

Bian Zhonghua: “….”

Qi Ci patted the crumbs of melon seeds and peanuts from his hands, looked at Bian Zhonghua, and said somewhat awkwardly: “I couldn’t move in the dream, and I was a little scared. But then you hugged me and said a lot of things to me.”

As he spoke, Qi Ci gradually calmed down.

Although he didn’t understand what was going on, Qi Ci had already taken it as an opportunity. As Qi Ci raised his head to look at Bian Zhonghua, he repeated what he said before: “Bian Zhonghua, I like you.”

His words were as genuine, eager, clear, and lovely as a lover’s letter that traveled all the way from the south, across the mountains and the ocean, to its recipient. Two people who, after being separated from each other for a long time, can finally fall into each other’s embrace.

Bian Zhonghua asked: “So, the person you’re in love with….is it me?

Qi Ci nodded with certainty.

Bian Zhonghua lowered his eyes and remained silent for three full seconds. Then, he raised his head, and a big smile formed on his face.

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Bian Zhonghua walked towards Qi Ci slowly, placed a hand on the table and leaned towards Qi Ci with clear intentions. With raised eyebrows, he asked: “Then, little Gongzi, can you still remember what I said to you in the dream?”

Qi Ci nodded.

Bian Zhonghua let out a meaningful ‘oh?’ from his lips and said: “Do you remember every word?”

Qi Ci paused.

Bian Zhonghua continued: “The incense you lit before is called ‘Burning with Love and Passion’. Once it’s lit, you will see the person your heart desires. I saw you in the dreamland.”

Qi Ci’s heart skipped a beat.

Bian Zhonghua smiled even more: “It seems that we shared the same dream just now. In that case, I wonder if Gongzi still remembers the things I said I would do to you in the dream.”

“Wh….what?”

As the candle flame flickered in the room from the gentle breeze blowing in from the window, the moon shone brightly in the dark night sky. At that moment, Bian Zhonghua leaned down, gently closing the distance with Qi Ci until he was close to his ear. With a low and hoarse voice, he said: “If I knew you liked me, I wouldn’t hesitate to rip your clothes off.”

As soon as he said these words, Bian Zhonghua began to slowly untie Qi Ci’s clothing, until these ended up completely scattered on the ground.

Qi Ci’s face slightly reddened, trying to bear his embarrassment. Unwilling to show any weakness, he pinched his neck and said: “You’re being so urgent right now when you used to be able to control your own instincts before. I wasn’t even able to notice your true feelings and intentions.…”

Bian Zhonghua laughed, knowing full well that he should ‘do more and talk less’. As he lowered his head, he finally kissed Qi Ci’s lips.